We have walls!

I can't believe its been almost a month since I last posted!

There has been quite a bit going on at the house. My hubby has been hard at work on the septic and well system. We have framers on site now, lots going on!

Just before Christmas we contracted a framer out of Kitchener. On Dec 27, 28th they came out and brought a big container that had to be brought in on a flat bed truck with all of their tools and equipment. And Jan 2nd they got started. When I went to the house on Jan 5th, this is what I found:

 



 

I was pleasantly surprised! I couldn't believe how much was actually done already. BUT  - when I stepped into the house I had a bit of an anxiety attack. It just looks so small on the inside. I started to panic! Is everything going to fit in here, it looks like everything is going to be so tight! I went as far as to go back the next day with the drawings and a tape measure just to try to map out where everything was going to be. I know I am over reacting. The main area of the new house is the size of our main level minus the front dining/living room area. I think its just different for me. I'm used to having our front entrance about 20 feet or so from the kitchen/family room. Now with the new house you walk in and there is small entrance before you enter the main area of the house. Its just different, not what I'm used to right now.

As of this week, this is what we've got:

 

 

CRAZY PROGRESS!!! The roof will be ready for shingles by this coming Thursday or Friday. So my job this week is to pick out a brick colour and shingles.

 

My hubby and good friend of ours D were busy today with doing some electrical work and more work on the sump pump. With all of this rain we had about 3 inches of water in the basement. They are getting ready to start running the electrical and putting in junction boxes and switches etc etc...

 

It's coming along and I am starting to get excited although there is still soooo much work to do. 

Progress is good...

Last week we took the kids over to the house. We now have a basement floor! It is a big basement. I guess because the main floor is smaller than our current house at 1800 sqft I wasn't imagining the basement as big as it is. The kids chased each other around while my hubby and I walked around and mapped out how the basement might be divided up once we are ready to finish the basement.

We went in the evening so other than the headlights from the truck there was no other light.

The kids chasing each other around the new basement!

The stairs going from the garage into the basement. (alternate entrance from garage)

I was really starting to worry that we wouldn't have any more work being done until after Christmas but my hubby proved me wrong. He was determined and he did it. We have had our builder on site since yesterday, although that almost went south. I started getting calls at work by my mother in law who was trying to get a hold of my hubby. Apparently the builder was on site ready to start working and there were supplies and materials missing. The builder was ready to leave but my hubby got a hold of Home Hardware and got his point across quick and easy - the materials should be there, they better be there in half hour or they could kiss the business good bye. And they did. Some of you might wonder why we went with Home Hardware instead of Turkstra or Home Depot. They gave us the best price on lumber. Home Hardware is trying to compete for the home builders business.

I stopped by the house last night after work and the floor joists are in. So we have progress!

The excavation, hole dug for the foundation

Forming for the foundation  - done

And finally we have a foundation!!!

Wow a lot has happened in the last 3 weeks. We are building a house people! We  have gone through the demolition, excavation, and now have a foundation. It hasn't been an easy process but it is getting done.
We've had a couple of incidents that should have held us back - my hubby was in an accident at work while driving a backhoe and smashed his head into the windshield. He suffered a concussion and has been dealing with headaches as a result. And the other day there was an issue with the sewage tank that he and a friend of ours installed. Because of the rain it lifted and with the floor being poured today he had to go there and get it back into its proper position. Well while he was there he ended losing his footing and fell into the foundation - 8ft. He now has a sprained ankle and headaches! He'll be broken before this house is built.
We've continued to have walk throughs at the house but no bites yet. I think it is just a bad time of year to be selling. People aren't thinking about buying a house right now so close to the holidays. I'm sure we'll get more action in the new year. But it makes us nervous knowing that we need to be able to sell this place so that we can continue work at the new place. I'm sure things will come together in time.
We have purchased our appliances - anyone looking for a great deal and amazing service should check out Goeman's on Hwy 8, Kitchener. We went to Sears, Bad Boy, TA appliances and a couple of other places and their best prices - even Black Friday prices didn't touch Goeman's. We went with stainless steel, GE Profile appliances. At least that is out of the way and is one less thing I have to think about.
We are very close to having our kitchen design done. I still haven't settled on colours for the cabinets. I want to be able to pick out my floors so that I can have a better idea of what colour cabinets I should go with.  I think we decided on a really nice Maple handscraped/distressed wood floor. It is not too dark but kind of in between. But I love that it is distressed. I don't have to worry about the dog or the kids or the furniture making dents or scratches in it. I will have to add a photo of it once I download it from my phone.
Hopefully the weather stays somewhat dry so that we can get the framing started next week. That is the part that worries me.
Anyway, thats a bit of an update. I'll post some pics later. Hopefully we'll have a productive, accident free day today!

It's finally happening!

Yesterday the machines were dropped off at the house and we are expected to start demo today or tomorrow.

It is finally starting to feel real. As long as this weather stays in our favour we might actually have a foundation in next week.

We've picked out windows and doors, speaking of which...here is the door that I have picked out for our front entrance. Its a beautiful Mahogany door, 2 in thick slab with 2 sidelights. I love this door!

I'll have more pics soon of the demo. 



Still waiting...

Well we are into "next week" now and still no permit. The inspector was off since I last Thursday and Friday and had Monday off for Remembrance day. Hubby called today and tried to put some pressure on. Again- fingers crossed permit will be in our hands by end of week. We have talked to our excavating and foundation guys who are ready to go. If we get our permit this week we are ready to do demo on Monday, dig on Tuesday, forming on Wednesday and pour foundation on Thursday.
I don't think this has felt real yet. It will take me seeing the work start to believe it.

In the meantime we have picked out some appliances. We have decided on GE Profile gas range with baking drawer, fridge with dbl doors and freezer in bottom, all in stainless steel.

All for now, hopefully I will actually have some exciting news soon.

Moving right along...

Okay so we are finally going to start seeing some progress soon. We handed in the drawings for the new septic system and we anticipate having our building permit in a week or so. But at least we can get the demolition of the existing house going. I now have a better understanding of why new homes are so expensive. It is not a cheap process that is for sure!  What is that expression? "House poor"? I get that!
Hopefully I will be able to get some pics posted soon when we start the demo and the excavation.

As far as our current house goes we had another showing today. No offers yet though.